Iowa Politics Today: The debate over vaccine exemptions

A roundup of legislative and Capitol news items of interest for Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2017:

TRAINING IOWANS:

The House approved HF 231 to make clear the Legislature's intent that participation in a 2014 program to make up to $3 million available for apprenticeship programs was for Iowa residents.

So far, about 8,000 people have been trained through programs offered by more than 600 program sponsors around Iowa, according to Rep. Andy McKean, R-Anamosa.

TMC, an Iowa transportation company, sought a $1 million grant to train 1,000 future truck drivers, many who were not Iowa residents. The Iowa Economic Development Authority rejected the application.

That decision is being challenged in court, and McKean said the Legislature needed to act quickly to make its intent clear rather than leave it to the interpretation of the court.

The House voted 94-0 to approve the bill and send it to the Senate, where a companion bill, SF 180, is being considered.

NO EXEMPTION:

A bill to eliminate the exemption in Iowa law for parents who have religious objections to immunizing their children has been introduced in the Iowa House.

Iowa law requires that children be immunized before enrolling in a licensed day care or public school. However, parents may exercise a religious or medical exemption to immunization requirements if it conflicts with the tenets and practices of a recognized religious denomination of which the parent is a member.

HF 261, sponsored by Rep. Mary Mascher, D-Iowa City, has proposed eliminating the religious exemption even as HF 7, another bill to add a 'personal conviction” exemption, is in the Human Resources Committee.

TRANSPORTATION CHANGES:

Iowa lawmakers are working to remove a provision of state law that currently makes it illegal to use a remote device to start the engine of a vehicle parked on the street or public property.

Iowa's law, dating back to 1913, prohibits a person from permitting a vehicle to stand unattended on public property without first stopping the engine or without effectively setting the brake and turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the highway when the vehicle is on 'any perceptible grade.” Violating the law carries a $20 fine.

Transportation committees in the House and Senate this week unanimously approved legislation (SSB1020 and HSB66) to amend the law.

Representatives Thursday also approved legislation changing the protocol for drivers involved in fender-bender accidents. House Study Bill 70 requires Iowa drivers involved in a minor, property-damage traffic accident to first move the vehicle from the travel portion of a roadway if the vehicle was operable and could be removed in a safe manner.

Current law requires the driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting only in damage to a vehicle to immediately stop the vehicle at the accident scene until the driver has fulfilled the legal requirement relating to the exchange of personal information with the other driver involved in the accident.

However, safety officials say that increasing the possibility for secondary accidents to occur.

FUEL PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:

Fuel prices to operate vehicles came down a little while heating costs went up over the past week in Iowa.

Officials with the state Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship report that propane prices rose by 4 cents to $1.29 per gallon, while natural gas prices made the same 4-cent jump to $3.04/MMBTU.

However, home heating prices dropped a penny from last week, ending with a statewide average of $2.03.

On the motor fuels side, state officials say the price of regular unleaded gasoline averaged $2.29 per gallon across Iowa, according to AAA. That price was 2 cents lower than the previous week and 62 cents a gallon higher than one year ago.

The national average Tuesday was $2.27.

Retail diesel fuel prices in Iowa held steady at last week's price with a statewide average of $2.47 a gallon - 4 cents lower than the national average. One year ago, diesel prices averaged $1.88 in Iowa.